Target structure



Feb. 9, 1937. ..H. A. DOUGLAS 2,069,822

TARGET STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Barn-5 AJDouslas LNVEJNTO'K' {Z 1 @Q/MW ATTOQ iss Feb. 9, 1937. DOUGLAS 2,069,822

TARGET STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x7 Bias?) Hx' A- Do aside LN \ILNTOK WM WWW AT T0 K warqs Patented Feb. 9, 19 37 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TARGET STRUCTURE Harry A. Douglas, Bronson, Mich. Application September 26, 1934,S'erialNo. 745,553

7 Claims. (01. 124-15) This invention relates to target structures, and tending through the marginal edges of the cushhas for an object the provision of a new and imioning sheet l6, and through perforations [B in iproved structure of this character. the flanges -14 of the wall sections I2 and I3,-and

In the drawings accompanying this specificaare bent over to firmly secure these parts to- 5 tion and forming apart of this application, I gether. 5

have shown, for purposes of illustration, one Each of the wall sections 12 at the end opembodiment which my invention may assume, posite to the flange I4 is formed with an outand in the drawings: wardly offset channel formation 19, opening in- Figure lis a'perspective view'of a target strucwardly toward each other, and forming guide ture, showing the same partially broken away to channels for the reception of the edges of a tar- 10 rbetterdisclose the interior construction, and also get piece '20, the channel formation being omitted :showing con'vertible supporting means therefor, from the wall section I3 to permit the target lpositioned to support said targetstructure from piece 20 to be freely inserted, or withdrawn for below; replacement. The corner portions of the target 15 Figure 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of structure are secured together through the medi- 15 the target :structure, showing the supporting um of fasteners '2l and 2-2, the fasteners 2| each '-means in position to support the target struchaving an offset portion 23 to fit over the ad- -ture from above; 'jacent channel formation l9 and having a strap Figure 3 is an enlarged horizontal sectional portion integral therewith, each end 24 of which view of th'e 'targetstructure, portions of the supextends through a suitably located aperture 2o porting means being broken away to better acin each of the adjacent wall sections and "are commodate theview't'o the sheet; bent over to firmly secure the wall sections to- Figure '4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspecgether at the corners. The fasteners 22 are the tive view of one corner portion of said target same except that the offset portions 23are omitted structure; for obvious reasons. 25

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but dis- The construction of the target piece 20 is of closing .an'other corner .portion of said target importance, since it is a purpose o'f'this invenstructure; 'while tion to do away with the necessity of employing Figur-e 6 is a fragmentary, enlarged horizontal heavy back-up material in the target structure, sectional view of the corner portion disclosed in and also to recover the missiles for use "again,

Figure 4. naturally involving prevention of deformation =As shown'in the drawings, the invention comthereof through striking the target. prises a portable target apparatus, including a Accordingly the target piece is madeof matebox-like receptacle, made up of suitable material, rial having a predetermined resistance to im- 5 such assheetsteel, including a rectangular backpact, either through the type of material emplate 10 having an angular flange 1! turned up ployed, or through the thickness of ordinary on each of its marginal edges, and inserted withshock absorbing material, proportionate to the in the pan-shaped member thus provided are predetermined or known power of the missile four wall sections, three of which are similar, projecting device. In any given instance, the 4 designated by the numeral l2, the remaining wall maximum power of the missile projecting device 40 section 13 being slightly different in form. Each and the proportionate resistance of the target of the wallsections l2 and i3 is provided with an piece may be determined by experiment, so that :inwardly turned flange l4 extending substanat a given distance, a missile may be projected tially parallel to the portion l5 ofthe back-plate at the target piece 20, and its force entirely Ill within the flange II, and interposed between spent by passage thereof through the target'piece -45 the flangel'l of the back-plate l0 and the flanges 20, without deformation, so that the missile may 14 of the wall sections 12 and 13 are the mardrop into the receptacle in the rear thereof and -ginal edgescf a=cushioning sheet "5, of any suitrecovered for further use. 7 able material, preferably felt, which extends over In case of use with a low powered missile prothe portion [5 of the back-plate II], and suitable jecting device, the target piece may be 'made of '50 fastening means are provided for securing the heavy cardboard,and whenused with relatively back-plate l0 and the flanges M of the wall scchigh powered projectors, may comprise highly retions l2 and I3 together. In the preferred emsistant fiber board, the degree of resistance-debodiment, the fastening means take the form of pending upon the-powerdeveloped' by'themissile (5.5 tongues I! struck up from the back-plate it, exprojecting device.

' to hang the target in the manner of a picture,-

In accomplishing my purpose,

when. desirable. I provide a stand 26 comprising a looped length of wire having a broad base portion 21, bent inwardly as at 28,to provide the feet and legs of a tripod arrangement hereinafter again reportion 32' terminating in a parallel portion 33,

ferred to, the side leg members 29 thereof being offset as at 30. Each of the ends 3i of the legs of the stand 26 is provided with 'an inturned and opposite wall sections l2 are each provided with an inclined slot 34 for the reception of the inturned portion 32 and parallel portion 33,, it being evident that the same may be'inserted or withdrawn only in one position, permitting the stand, however, to be swung to a position to abut the channel formations l9 which act as stops when the stand is in use, and also permitting the stand to be swung over the back of the target structure and the inwardly bent portion 28 to be snapped over the flange ll of the back-plate l0 and the stand thus locked in aninoperative position. v i I To complete the ,tripod arrangement a: prop 35. is provided, comprising a V-shaped wire member 36, the ends of which are bent into hook form with the hooked ends 31 inserted into suitable" apertures 38 in the wall sections l2, and held in', position by the resiliency of the wire, while the bight portion 39 of the wire member is squeezed together to form a loop 40 insertable into one end of a split tube 4| which provides an extension of the wire member 36 and completes the prop 3.5. n V r r V The supportingmeans for the target may readily be converted to be hung from a wall fastener, the tube 4i being removable from the looped portion 40 and the wire member 36 detachable byspreading the legs thereof, and-these operations/being completed, the stand 26 may be swung into locked position as already explained, the wire member 36 reversed in position and the hooked portions 31 reinserted into the apertures 38, the looped wire member 36 then providing means by which the target structure may be hung from a wall fastener in the manner of a picture. I

Under these circumstances it will be apparem to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal object of my invention. On the other hand, it also will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the disclosure herein is illustrative only, and may be variously and extensively modified, whilestill retainingpart or all of the advantages of my invention, and without departing from my invention, and that my invention inno sense'is limited to this or any specific embodiment or disclosure.

I claim: j r V I 1. In a targetstructure, the combination with a target piece proper; supporting meansadapted to support said target piece, and comprising: a back-up plate having an angular flange along its margin, and wall sections having one set of edge .portionsarranged within said flange, and disposedsubstantially parallel therewith; and each of, said edge portions having a flange extending substantially parallel with that a part of said ,plate inwardly .of .its flange, and certain of the :opposite edges of said wall sections having means for supporting said target piece properg a cushioningmember extending over the inner surface plate; and fastening elementsstruck up from i said plate inwardly of the flange thereof and 5 extending through said cushioning member, through apertures in the flanges of saidsections, and bent over to secure said plate, said cushioning member and said flanges together.

2. In a construction of the character described, the combination with a target; convertible apparatus for supporting the said-target from beneath or from above, comprising: a stand having a broad base disposable beneath one portion of said target, and a prop disposable beneath another portion 'thereof,in the manner of a tripod, said prop comprising a bent member having spaced arms, detachably and reversibly connected to said target, and having a looped bight portion, and a split tubular member detachably engageable with said bight portion, and: forming an extension of said prop, said stand being movable to an inoperative position, said tubular member being detachable, and said prop being reversible, so as to dispose the bight portion of said propi'in position to support said target from above, when said apparatus is converted. ai 3. In a construction of the character described,

the combination with a target having a structural projection thereon; convertible apparatus: for supporting the said target from beneath or from above, comprising a stand having a broadbase disposable beneath one portion of said ,target and movably mounted at a point remote from said structural projection and a prop disposable beneath another portion thereof, in'the manner ,of a tripod, said prop comprising a bent memdetachable, and said prop being reversible, so

as to dispose the bight portion of said prop in position tosupport said target from above, whensaid apparatus is converted. 1

4. In a construction of the character described, the combination with a target; apparatus for supporting the said target in inclined position, comprising a prop means, including a member having divergent arms movably connected to said target and a looped bight portion between said arms, and a split tubular member adapted for the detachable reception of saidbight portion, and together with said member forming said prop means. V

5. Convertible object supporting means, comj prising: a first device swingably connected to said object, and movable to a position to support said object from below, and collapsible to an out-of-the-way position with reference to said object, and a second device swingably connected to said object at a point spaced from theconin the manner of a'tripod, and said second as vice having means exposed when said, extensionis detached, operable tosuspend said object in the manner of a picture.

6. In a target structure, the combination with a target piece proper; supporting means adapted to support said target piece, and comprising: a back-up plate, and wall sections having one set of edge portions connected to said plate, and certain of the opposite edge portions of said wall sections formed to provide laterally offset channels for the reception of said target piece proper; and a corner member for each corner of said structure, certain of said corner members having a part embracing the adjacent meeting portions of said offset channels, and another part angularly disposed about the meeting portions of said wall sections, and having one end extending through a perforation in one section and its opposite end extending through a perforation in an adjacent section, and each end bent to securing position.

'7. In a target structure, the combination with a target piece proper; supporting means adapted to support said target piece, and comprising: a back-up plate having an angular flange along its margin, and wall sections having one set of edge portions arranged within said flange, and disposed substantially parallel therewith, and each of said edge portions having a flange extending substantially parallel with that part of said plate inwardly of its flange, and certain of the opposite edges of said wall sections having means for supporting said target piece proper; a cushioning member extending over the inner surface of said plate, having its margins interposed between the flanges of said wall sections and said plate; and fastening elements connecting said plate and the flanges of said wall sections together.

HARRY A. DOUGLAS. 

